📣 Neptune Days Encinitas Ocean Fest 🌊
Welcome all Encinitans and Waterfolk! We're excited to announce the first annual Neptune Days Encinitas Ocean Fest, a celebration of our city's beach culture and surfy heritage.
On August 18th and 19th, dip your toes in the water with us for a weekend of water activity and beach competitions brought to you by local non-profit organizations the Encinitas Lifesaving Association and One with the Ocean. 100% of event proceeds will go back into the community through Encinitas lifeguard education grants, learn to swim programs, and public beach safety initiatives.
Festivities will be held where Neptune Ave. meets the sand, at lovely Moonlight Beach. We'll kick off the evening of Friday, August 18th with our first-ever Moonlight Bootlegger’s Cup Lifeguard Competition, featuring teams of professional ocean lifesavers from up and down the coast. Lifeguards will compete against each other—and four select public challenger teams!—in a series of classic lifeguard events to win the Moonlight Bootlegger Perpetual Cup (and crowing rights as the championship department). While the competition is geared towards those affiliated with a registered lifesaving organization, we welcome the community to come and support your local lifesavers with cheers, jeers, and beers at a casual get together following the competition (location TBD).
Public Events will take place on Saturday, August 19th, with an individual mile swim and a two mile, four person swim relay. Get in your training and assemble your teams now—all participants will receive a special edition inaugural Neptune Days t shirt, and winners of both the individual and relay swims will go home with a bevvy of prizes from local Encinitas brands and vendors, along with boasting rights that will last for the next 364 days.
Alongside our swim events, we're proud to be partnering with the Blake Dresner Surf Competition, an annual competition in memory of Encinitas lifeguard Blake Dresner. They'll be shredding right next door at D Street.
Don't miss your chance to support the Encinitas Beach Community in this inaugural celebration of our Encinitas beaches, lifeguards, and our collective love for the ocean. And remember: the early seabird gets the krill—be sure to snap up your entries early, space is limited this year, entry costs go up the longer you wait, and only signups before August 1st are guaranteed a t-shirt!
Registration fees
Prices are inclusive of mandatory charges, items, and fees
Bootlegger Cup Lifeguard Challenge (Team Captain Registration) Closed
Calling all those who guard hard! Join us for the first annual Moonlight Bootlegger Cup Competition, open to teams of 8 current and former ocean lifeguards affiliated with a Professional Lifesaving Agency. We'll also be offering limited (four only!) spots to public teams who want to challenge the pro's. Team Captains will need to register their team here first, then share their team code with each team member—email brenna@encinitaslifesaving.org for more detail and a registration code!
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$173.17
$20 per person; teams of 8
Apr 1 - Aug 19
Bootlegger Cup Lifeguard Challenge (Team Member Registration) Closed
You'll need teams of 8 for a crack at the Bootlegger Cup. Contact your team captain for your team name and sign up code!
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Free
Team Member Pricing
Apr 1 - Aug 19
Neptune Days Individual Mile Swim Closed
Online registration closed-
Hop in on the first annual Neptune Days Ocean Swim, a mile cruise through the lovely cove of Moonlight Beach. Swimmers will be grouped by age for awards, with one all-age wetsuit category for those who opt for foam. **Register before August 1 for a guaranteed t-shirt!**
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$55.49
Early Seabird
Apr 1 – Jun 30 -
$60.83
No Hurry, No Worry
Jul 1 – Jul 31 -
$66.18
Toes in the Water!
Aug 1 – Aug 18 -
ClosedAug 18 – Aug 19
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After Noon on August 18, Race Day Registration Only
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ClosedAug 19 – Aug 19
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Neptune Days 2 Mile Relay (Team Captain Registration) Closed
Online registration closed-
Assemble your Neptune teams! Take off in teams of four to be the first annual champions of the Neptune Days Relay—each swimmer will race 0.5 miles, for a team total of 2 miles in Moonlight Cove. **Register before August 1 for a guaranteed t-shirt!**
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$87.58
$20 per person; teams of 4
Apr 1 – Jun 30 -
$108.98
$25 per person; teams of 4
Jul 1 – Jul 31 -
$130.38
$30 per person; teams of 4
Aug 1 – Aug 18 -
ClosedAug 18 – Aug 19
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After Noon on August 18th: Day of Sign Up Only
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ClosedAug 19 – Aug 19
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Neptune Days 2 Mile Relay (Team Member Registration) Closed
Claim your spot with your relay team of four! Get in touch with your relay team captain for your Neptune Days sign up code. **Register before August 1 for a guaranteed t-shirt!**
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Free
Team Members
Apr 1 - Aug 19
Race Day FAQs
What happens if Hurricane Hillary comes through?
We're keeping our fins crossed that this isn't an issue! Based on the latest predictions, the impacts of the hurricane (if any) shouldn't hit us here in San Diego until late Sunday / early Monday. However, we're keeping a close eye on the weather and will move the event to an alternate date if needed—our primary goal is to make sure we're keeping all participants as safe as possible (we're lifeguards, after all), so we'll be making any adjustments with that in mind.
Can I wear a wetsuit for the Moonlight Mile Swim?
If you must! ;) Wetties can be worn for the individual mile, but note that swimmers wearing wetsuits will not place in their age category for prizing. All swimmers wearing wetsuits will be a part of an open, all-ages wetsuit category. **If you're planning to wear a wetsuit, you'll need to let us know when you check in so we can get you categorized correctly.
Can I wear a wetsuit for the Two Mile Relay?
To ensure an even playing field for all relay teams, wetsuits will not be allowed during the two mile relay.
How will awards & prizing work?
Top three finishers in the individual mile age categories, and one all-ages wetsuit category, will receive a prize. The top three relay teams will also receive prizes. (Big thank yous to local brand partners Mizu and Sunbum for our prize offerings!) We'll plan to give out awards and prizes for both events following the relay swim, which we estimate should be around 11:30 am. All participants, regardless of how they finish, will get a participant t shirt (more on that below), participant swim cap, and a whole bunch of Encinitas Lifesaving gratitude for going on this inaugural Neptune Days ride with us.
What if I signed up after August 1st, will I still get a T-shirt?
Participants (individual mile swimmers, and the teams of relay captains) who signed up by August 1st are guaranteed T shirts of the size indicated at checkout. We're doing our best to get ALL swimmers their shirts on race day, but don't worry if you signed up late and we're already out of shirts (or your size)—we'll do an additional run of shirts after the race for those who missed out, and we'll get your shirt to you either via pickup at Moonlight Beach or good, old fashioned snail mail.
When does check in start, and where is it?
6:30 am on race day! Get a good night's rest and leave plenty of time for parking, then look for an Encinitas Lifesaving tent near the main palm tree at Moonlight Beach. Meet us there to check in, get your timing chip, cap, and shirt—just bring a picture ID with you. For the full day of schedule, take a look at the race day schedule at the bottom of this page.
Where should I park?
Your best bet is the Moonlight Beach public parking lot, located adjacent to the Moonlight Beach Overlook at 450 W. C St, Encinitas CA 92024. If those spaces aren't available, there's street parking in the areas both south and north of Moonlight Beach. As with any event, we'd recommend that you save yourself some stress and a little extra time to find parking.
Who should I contact with questions?
Your Neptune Days race directors are Brian Ketterer and Brenna Fleener from the Encinitas Lifesaving Association; get in touch them anytime with questions before, during, or after the race at hello@encinitaslifesaving.org.
Event Detail & Timeline
AUGUST 18th
Neptune Days Lifeguard Competition
Calling all those who guard hard! Join us for the first annual Encinitas Lifesaving Competition, open to current and former ocean lifeguards affiliated with a Professional Lifesaving Agency. We'll also be opening up registration to select (4 only!) public challenger teams. Contact brenna@encinitaslifesaving.org for more detail, and to get your registration code!
From 6:30 pm to 8 pm, teams of eight (co-ed) will compete for boasting rights in:
- 75 M Sprint Paddle x 4 Relay
- 100 M Sprint Run x 4 Relay
- 75 M Sprint Swim x 4 Relay
- 2 K Run x 4 Relay
- Beach Flags (2 participants per team)
- 2 Person Rescue Relay (4 participants per team; 2 victims & 2 rescuers)
AUGUST 19TH
Neptune Days Swim Events—Individual Mile & 2 Mile Relay
Hop in on the first annual Neptune Days Ocean Swim events! We'll kick off with a mile cruise for individual swimmers, through the lovely cove of Moonlight Beach. After the mile wraps up, groups of four will take off to be the first annual champions of the Neptune Days 2 Mile Relay—each swimmer will race 0.5 miles, for a team total of 2 miles in Moonlight Cove. Note that the Mile & 2 Mile will be timed so that athletes may participate in both if desired. Everyone who takes a dip will receive a participant t shirt to wear with salty satisfaction; Winners will go home with an armful of local prizes and a hefty dose of pride.
Event Categories:
Individual Mile Swim—Ages 12-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+; Wetsuit All Ages
2 Mile Relay (4 people / team; ½ mile swim each): Ages 12-70+ Open Category); NO WETSUITS
- 6:30 AM - Mile Swim Athlete Check In Begins
- 6:30 AM - Relay Swim Athlete Check In Begins
- 7:30 AM - Mile Swim Athlete Check In Closes
- 7:45 AM - Mile Swim Athlete Briefing
- 8:00 AM - Mile Swim Start (Waves TBD)
- 9:00 AM - Relay Swim Athlete Check In Closes
- 9:15 AM - Relay Swim Captain Briefing
- 9:30 AM - Relay Swim Start
- 11:00 AM - Awards & Prizing
- 12:00 PM - Event Close
Blake Dresner Memorial Surf Competition
Join local non profit Epicc in this third annual competition at D Street, in memory of Encinitas Lifeguard and waterman Blake Dresner. All proceeds will go towards helping save lives in communities around the world. Note that entries and event day organization for the Dresner Surf Competition are being collected separately—please visit the Dresner Surf Contest signup site for more detail.
- 7:00 am-11:00 am—Round 1 Heats
- 11:00 am-1:00 pm—Round 2 Heats
- 1:00 pm-3:00 pm—Final Rounds
Get to Know Us!
Neptune Days is proudly co-organized by local 501c3 non-profits the Encinitas Lifesaving Association and One with the Ocean. 100% of event proceeds will be reinvested in the Encinitas community via these two organizations. Read on for a little more about who we are and how you can get involved!
The Encinitas Lifesaving Association is the nonprofit arm of the Encinitas Ocean Lifeguards. We're on a mission to make San Diego's North County Beaches and ocean enjoyable for all by working to prevent aquatic injuries, accidents, and fatalities.
We work in tandem with the Encinitas Department of Marine Safety to support beach safety in North County. 100% of our funding, donations, and member dues go towards providing professional training to North County lifeguards, public water safety programming, and learn to swim programs for youth in underserved communities in our area. Our members include current and former Encinitas ocean lifeguards, junior lifeguards, and other water-aware community members who are passionate about advancing public education in the areas of water and ocean safety.
Join us to help make every day a day at the beach at www.encinitaslifesaving.org.
We’re a community of ocean lovers. Some are athletes, others adventure seekers, many simply come to play. All ages, all backgrounds. Side by side, stroke by stroke, we overcome fears and find joy in our wild waters. We exist to share our passion for the open water with swimmers and non-swimmers alike—because the ocean belongs to us all. Join us to become a part of the world's largest open water swimming community, supporting one another to face down fears and find growth and confidence in the water. https://www.onewiththeocean.org/
Event schedule
- Fri, August 18, 2023 6:00 PM - Bootlegger Lifeguard Cup Check In
- Fri, August 18, 2023 6:30 PM - Bootlegger Lifeguard Cup Event Start
- Sat, August 19, 2023 6:30 AM - Mile Swim Athlete Check In Begins
- Sat, August 19, 2023 6:30 AM - Relay Swim Athlete Check In Begins
- Sat, August 19, 2023 7:30 AM - Mile Swim Athlete Check In Closes
- Sat, August 19, 2023 7:45 AM - Mile Swim Athlete Briefing
- Sat, August 19, 2023 8:00 AM - Mile Swim Wave 1 Start
- Sat, August 19, 2023 8:05 AM - Mile Swim Wave 2 Start
- Sat, August 19, 2023 8:10 AM - Mile Swim Wave 3 Start
- Sat, August 19, 2023 9:00 AM - Relay Swim Athlete Check In Closes
- Sat, August 19, 2023 9:15 AM - Relay Swim Captain Briefing
- Sat, August 19, 2023 9:30 AM - Relay Swim Start
Contact information
- Event contact
- Encinitas Lifesaving Association
